Building Zambia’s Next-Gen Payroll Platform

The Client

A visionary Zambian entrepreneur set out to transform payroll operations for local businesses that were still relying on outdated, desktop-based tools like Palm Soft.

The goal was to build a modern, cloud-based payroll platform WageWorks capable of automating attendance, salary processing, and statutory compliance.

To bring this vision to life, she partnered with Satva Solutions to design and develop a secure, scalable SaaS product built for Zambia’s complex tax structure and multi-currency environment.

The Challenges

Before WageWorks, payroll and finance teams faced several recurring pain points:

• Manual data entry and reconciliation between payroll, banks, and accounting systems
• No real-time integrations with financial institutions or Sage 300
• Complex compliance processes for PAYE, NAPSA, NHIMA, and Skills Levy
• Limited visibility into multi-branch payroll expenses and liabilities

The mission was clear replace Palm Soft with a next-generation payroll solution that could:

• Automate payroll cycles end-to-end
• Ensure 100% statutory compliance
• Support multi-currency payrolls (ZMW & USD)
• Integrate directly with banks and Sage 300
• Deliver a user-friendly experience for HR and finance teams

The Solution

Satva Solutions engineered WageWorks through 14 agile sprints, creating a fully cloud-based, compliance-driven payroll platform tailored for Zambia’s business landscape.

Key Features Delivered

1. Role-Based Access Control

   • Secure authentication and role management for admins, supervisors, and payroll managers

2. Attendance & Payroll Automation

   • Integrated timesheets, shifts, and attendance tracking
   • Automated earnings, deductions, and statutory calculations for PAYE, NAPSA, NHIMA, and more

3. Bank Integrations

   • Direct API connections with First Capital Bank Zambia Limited, Windward Islands Bank (WIB), and RTGS for automated salary disbursements
   • Instant validation and payment status updates for each employee
   • Reduced human error through secure, verified payment processing

4. Accounting Integration

   • Automated Sage 300 export for accounting and reconciliation
   • Chart of Accounts mapping and error-free journal posting

5. Reporting & Compliance

   • One-click PAYE, NAPSA, and NHIMA reports
   • Real-time dashboards for payroll analytics and compliance tracking

6. Data Imports & Automation

   • Bulk onboarding, mid-month updates, and validation checks for accurate data processing

Results and Impacts

WageWorks quickly gained traction as Zambia’s most advanced payroll platform:

• 70% faster payroll cycles with full automation
• 100% compliance accuracy with statutory requirements
• 2,000+ employees processed within the first month
• 20+ companies onboarded during initial rollout
• Seamless multi-currency payroll in ZMW and USD
• Automated salary transfers through direct bank integrations
• Sage 300 accounting sync for instant reconciliation

Conclusion

What began as a solution to replace an outdated payroll system evolved into a complete digital transformation for Zambian businesses.

With Satva Solutions’ technical expertise, WageWorks delivers a unified payroll, banking, and accounting experience fast, compliant, and built to scale.

Payroll teams now process salaries in hours, not days, with full transparency and control.